One Tree Hill Star Says He Was Blindsided By His Character's Death

"It was actually really, extremely disappointing because I had just made a movie and financed it myself for, like, a million dollars.

Because they had let me go for the last six shows the season before, I was like, “Are you going to cut me?” He came to dinner to tell me. He’s like, “No, no, no. As long as the show runs, you’re gonna be on it. You’re the character I based on my brother,”

[Schwahn called me right before filming started on season 3.] He goes, “I’ve got some really exciting news for you. It’s gonna be the best season ever.” I was like, “Yeah, I was wondering when you were gonna [call]. I didn’t even get a call, so I didn’t know what was going on. I had my agent call yesterday and nobody returned his call.” He goes, “Yeah, so good news and bad news.” Tells me all about this great thing, [and says,] “And then Paul shoots you.” I go, “OK, so I’m dead? Does that mean I don’t get paid anymore?” He was like, “Yeah.” I was like, “Dude, you told me...”’ Not only was it cheesy, but the way it was handled. You don’t call me and talk to me about it?

We do know that production schedules can get crazy but for simple things, it was so about control. I showed up as this character. I had a teeny bit of facial hair, I wore my boots outside my pants like I always did. Gradually, Mark Schwahn … they threatened to fire me about my boots. I’m like, “Look, I just don’t want to leave my boots in my pants. I wear my bandana, I’ve been doing it for the first three-four weeks.” [They said,] “We don’t want that anymore. We want your hair combed back, we want you shaved, we want this.” It got to a point where they’re calling my agent like, “If this power struggle is going to continue, we’re just going to get rid of him.” That kind of stuff, they break down your soul."